Advani keeps medal hope alive in Indoor Asian Games

Reigning world champion Pankaj Advani kept India's hopes alive in the third Indoor Asian Games after advancing to the quarter-finals of the 15-Red Snooker discipline in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Advani, who on Monday, had crashed out in the pre-quarterfinals of the 6-Red Snooker discipline, showed immense maturity and depth in his technique and won both his encounters of the day in the 15-Red Snooker.

Advani, riding high on some gutsy potting and excellent cushion work, defeated HongKon's Au Chi Wai (4-2), 35-74, 69-38, 72-00, 69-21, 14-76 and 67-15 in the first match, and later dashed the title hopes of Brunei's Husain Mahmood Ali Mahmood with a similar margin in the second match. He defeated Mahmood 61-68, 44-63, 73-18, 77-12, 67-29 and 63-09.

Another Indian Delhi Boy Manan Chandra, who agonizingly came close to a medal in the 6-Red Snooker discipline on Monday started his campaign in 15-Red Snooker discipline on a rollicking note and defeated Brunei's Ahmed Ghulam Hasan Muanedi (4-0), 69-29, 79-15, 64-08 and 70-44.

In the men singles of 1-Cushion Carom, India's Vijay Goel failed to provide any challenge to his opponent Japan's Tadashi Machida and lost 35-100.